The past few days have been very boring, so I decided to create a list
of
cards that have good uses, but seem to never find a home in tournament decks.
I will rate these cards from 1-10 (1-Poor, 10- Great) I use the majority of
the following in decks of mine:
#1. Charizard: The reason I like Charizard is that it has Energy Burn. All
you need to do is put the 4 energies (or 2 DCE) on him to do 100 damage. The
two reasons people don't use him are 1: Stage 2 Evolution. Simple, just put
some Charmander and Breeders, and 2: He is extremely prone to Energy Removal
and SER. Another easy answer. Just load him up with 10 energies! Charizard
deserves a 8.5.
#2. Nidoking: Where did he disappear to? 3 Grass gets 20 Damage + 20 Poison
damage after each player's turn. By your next turn, the Defending Pokemon has
60 damage on it! Nidoking gets a 7.5.
#3. Dewgong: The best way to put it is: Dewgong is an uncommon version of
Gyarados, only with 80 HP. Capabilities are identical to Gyarados. Dewgong is
receiving a 7.0 from me.
#4. Pokemon Flute: Why? This card has no real use. But, I discovered a great
combo using this: First, use Poke Flute to bring back a Low HP Pokemon. Then
GOW it out for a quick prize. Pokemon Flute will get a 6.0.
#5. Pokedex: Bad card, but, there are two combos involving it: 1: Use Pokedex
to put the best two cards first, and use Bill to draw those two. 2: Have
Blaine's Magmar active. Use Pokedex to see if using Lava Burst is worth it. I
like combo #2 better. Knowing this, I'll give Pokedex a 7.5.
#6. Jolteon: It's Pin Missile (2 Lightning and 1 Colorless) can do up to 80
damage! There is no backfire to the attack. Risky, but usually dependable.
8.0.
#7. Pinsir: Two Grass Energy gets you 20 damage and paralysis. Then add 2
Colorless Energy to do 50 straight damage. I use Pinsir in close to all my
Grass decks, so it earned a 8.0.
#8. Venomoth: I love Venomoth. 2 Grass Energy gets a measly 10 damage, but
read the fine print. It also both Confuses and Poisons! And then, Shift can
change your type to another, to help to find weaknesses. And finally, there's
the best part: Resistance to Fighting. Hitmonchan can only do 10 damage to it
with Special Punch! Venomoth will get an 8.0.
#9.Exeggutor: One of the greatest "forgottens" of all. I use this card
quite
often in my decks. After all, I invented the Exeggutor deck. (4 Exeggcute, 4
Exeggutor, 4 DCE...) Big Eggsplosion states: Flip a number of coins equal to
the number of Energy attached to Exeggutor. This attack does 20 damage times
the number of heads. From how this is stated, if 4 DCE are on him, it could
do up to 160 damage! I one time put 15 energies on an Exeggutor, and took 6
consecutive prizes to win. Just put Potions and Switches in with him to keep
him alive. This scores Exeggutor a generous 8.5.
#10. Primeape: On Turn #2, it can do up to 60 damage for only 2 Fighting
Energy! Enough said. 7.5. Only bad part: Mankey.
#11. Rhydon: Thank God it's forgotten! 4 Fighting Energy for only 50 damage,
20 to self!?!?!?! 3.0.
#12. Aerodactyl: It's got 2 good things to it: 1: Resistance to itself.
Useful for Confusion. No damage is done to itself. 2: Prehistoric Power stops
evolutions in their tracks. Aerodactyl gets a 6.0.
#13. Fossil Haunter: One of the best defenses against the ever-abundant
Hitmonchans. Only a 25% chance it can even get 10 damage in. (Resistance,
Sleeping from Nightmare, and Transparency) 8.0.
#14. Dark Golbat: Flitter- 2 Grass- 20 damage to anything in opponent's play
area! Just pick on something with low HP for a quick prize. Dk. Golbat
deserves a 6.5.
#15. Dark Hypno: One Psychic Energy does a nice 20 damage? Bench
Manipulation can do up to 100! Knowing this, I give it a 7.5.
#16. Dark Machoke: Stall decks' NIGHTMARE, juggling Defending Pokemon every
turn: OUCH! Just like using GOW every turn! 8.0.
#17. Dark Golduck: It is identical to Kadabra: HP, Super Psy. Third Eye is
similar to Bill. This earns it a 6.5.
#18. Erika's Gloom Lv. 24: Magic Pollen alone gives this an 8.0. You do 30
damage, and get to choose if they're going to be Poisoned, Asleep, Paralyzed,
or Confused. Great with negative condition decks. 8.0.
#19. Misty's Poliwhirl: Similar to Exeggutor (see above), in that the more
energy, the better. Except this has a minimum of 30 damage, which gets it an
8.0.
#20. Tentacool: One word: COWARDICE! All you do is use Alakazam's Damage Swap
to put the damage counters on Tentacool, then Cowardice, and finally bench
Tentacool. Do this every turn for extreme damage removal. Better than Potion.
Best in multiples (4 Tentacool). I've put this combo in a deck previously, so
I like it. 7.0.
#21. Brock: Yet another card that should be used with Alakazam. Spread the
damage out, then Brock. Similar to Tentacool. Also, best in multiples. 6.0.
#22. Brock's Training Method: A guaranteed version of Poke Ball. Use it to
find parts of Brock's evolutions that you don't have in your hand. Fair, so
it's a 5.5.
#23. Super Potion: Absolutely great for Rain Dance decks that have excessive
energy. Discard 1 Energy for removal of 40 damage! This power has earned a
7.5.
#24. Energy Search: Why isn't this card used in tournaments? The answer: I
have no clue. It is great for 3-type decks. 8.0 is appropriate for this card.
#25. Pokemon Trader: DUH! Perfect for finding missing evolution stages. 8.0.
#26. Gambler: Good for getting big hands, but there is always the risk of
getting back only 1 card. Substitution for Oak. 8.0.
#27. Tickling Machine: Good game clincher. Never use this card mid-fight.
Best first turn or last-turn. 7.0 is for the ability to make their hand
useless for the turn.
#28. Revive: Your opponent finally KO's your unstoppable Electabuzz. It's
back! Your opponent should watch their back for this 8.0 card.
#29. Mr. Fuji: 7.0 Good for adding to your deck at the end of a slow battle,
to prevent deck-outs, or make another spot on your bench for that 'Buzz...
#30. Team Rocket's Meowth ( Promo #18): Wonderful Kamikaze. It is its only
use. KO's itself very often. Good game clincher if you have no Chansey. This
gets a 7.0.
Finally, the end! This took an hour and a half to type up. Agreements,
disputes, comments, etc. should go to Baboonskin@aol.com
If you have a
troubled deck, please send it to me! I need something to do during the
upcoming cold months.
-Chris